PS2 Confidential: Case File #3

Have an obsession with hearing about all the latest tittle-tattle? Want to know what's going on in the world of the PlayStation 2? Think you've heard everything there is to know? Think again. Say hello to our PlayStation 2 rumor report, PS2 Confidential -- our frequent exploration into the world of rumors, gossip, and whispers that look at the future of everyone's favorite upright console. Now mind you, none of these stories below have been confirmed, so don't blame us if they don't exactly pan out six months after we report them. Anyhow, on with the show!

SOCOM II Downloadable Maps Finally Coming As I'm sure everyone remembers by now, the promise of downloadable maps for SOCOM: U.S. Navy Seals II and the HDD was made quite some time ago; but after more than four months of nothing but silence, it seems that Sony is soon to make good on its original promise. At least, according to our super secret source it will.

Likely to be unveiled sometime next month, three brand new maps for SOCOM 2 will be primed and ready for download directly from within the game. Though the details of these maps are obviously shrouded in secrecy, they'll apparently be much bigger than any of the default areas that shipped with the game and bring some unusual surroundings not seen in the SOCOM series before.

Killzone, Gran Turismo 4, and DMC3 in 2005 It's no secret that 2004 is one of the biggest years for software in the history of the market, but we've been hearing rumblings that the season could get somewhat softened with probable delays for Sony's pair of heavy hitters Killzone and Gran Turismo 4, along with Capcom's own big actioner Devil May Cry 3.

It looks fantastic, but Gran Turismo 4 may not make it in 2004.

But why the delays in the first place? In the case of GT4 and DMC3, the games simply may not be ready yet. While Killzone's delay could likely be blamed on the huge lineup of PS2 software already planned for the winter months and the probability that it may have to go head to head with Halo 2 on the store shelves. With all three games currently scheduled to appear sometime near the end of the year, it could be a big blow for the Christmas market if the rumor of delays turns out to be true.

Culdcept Reprints Called Off Though IGN never reported an official story on it, we were told not too long after NEC's Culdcept was released that a second run of the cult favorite would be released with all new packaging near the beginning of 2004. Planned to be known as Culdcept: Game of the Year Edition, it was to boast several award logos (including ours) and come out in a much heavier print run than the original's 30,000 unit count so that new and interested parties could check it out. Message board fiends that we are (okay so it was me), I let a few of the people asking about tracking a copy down know about it, but after the initial few months forgot about it in the midst of other games coming out.

Unfortunately, it seems that NEC has forgotten about it as well. As not only will the Game of the Year edition not come out in America after all, but neither will any other game directly published by NEC -- as we hear that its U.S. office will likely close up shop and head back to Japan

Reentering the Matrix Though Atari and Shiny have always made it clear that the pair plans on releasing future sequels to the Matrix franchise, early rumors pointed towards there being at least two more titles coming for the PS2. According to our secret sources in Europe, however, it looks as though only one more Matrix game could be headed for the PlayStation 2 with the proposed third title held for the next generation consoles.

And since we're on the subject of The Matrix, we've also been hearing that an official announcement pertaining to the next game will made sometime before the end of 2004; though what month the announcement will be made, what kind of game it will be, and which systems it will appear on are still being kept a closely guarded secret. You can bet your bottom dollar, though, that a PlayStation 2 version sometime in 2005 is a definite.

That's it for this week folks, but we'll be back again next time with another edition of PS2 Confidential. But before we go, keep in mind that if you have a rumor or interesting piece of news that we should know about, feel free to email us and let us know. We'll see you again next time.